Tag Archives: Rich Hawkins

MATT SHAW’s THE DEVIL’S GUESTS is out now. Matt’s put together a really ambitious book, and it’s a project I was pleased to be a part of. I had far too much fun creating a particularly obnoxious character for Matt to ‘dispose of’ later in the book. Here’s the cover blurb:

From outside the hotel looks like any other in the city. Inside though, a maze of ever-changing corridors, rooms filled with death, traps and – behind the reception desk with a welcoming smile, a sadistic owner who can not wait to help his guests check-out permanently.

From the twisted imagination of Matt Shaw, and partly based on the serial killer H. H. Holmes, comes a new extreme horror and a new way of telling the story. While Shaw writes the part of Henry, the sadistic serial killer, he has invited some leading horror authors to write their own characters – introducing them to the hotel before Shaw finishes the story off. This is not an anthology. This is one story with guest authors Jeff Strand, Wrath James White, Kealan Patrick Burke, Shane Mckenzie, Sam West, Wade H. Garrett, Ryan Harding, Armand Rosamilia, David Moody, Gary McMahon, Jasper Bark and Mark Tufo.

Also out now is the paperback edition of GREEN AND PLEASANT LAND, an excellent anthology edited by Steve J Shaw which includes my story OSTRICH.

Green and Pleasant Land is the first in an annual series showcasing the best in modern British horror. Every year, Great British Horror will feature ten British authors, plus one international guest contributor, telling tales of this sceptered isle. The 2016 edition features eleven original stories of small town, rural and folk horror from V H Leslie, Rich Hawkins, Laura Mauro, Ray Cluley, David Moody, Barbie Wilde, James Everington, Simon Kurt Unsworth, Adam Millard, A K Benedict and Jasper Bark.

There’s an intentional hole in the Infected Books Year of the Zombie schedule for October. As well as showcasing some of the best zombie authors out there, we wanted YoZ to include more than a little fresh meat. We’ve already had debut novellas from Gary Slaymaker and James Plumb, and we’re looking for a brand new writer to take the coveted Halloween slot.

Some news for you at long last! I’m pleased to announce I’ll have two new shorts available later this year. First up, I’ll have a story in Great British Horror 1: Green and Pleasant Land – a collection of eleven new stories of small town, rural and folk horror by authors including Jasper Bark, Ray Cluley, Adam Millard and Rich Hawkins. The book will be released as a special edition, signed hardback in late 2016, and is available to pre-order now from http://blackshuckbooks.co.uk/green-and-pleasant-land

‘Ostrich’

No doubt some of you will have heard of Matt Shaw. Matt’s had quite an impact on the UK horror scene over the last couple of years, and he recently asked me to get involved in his new project, The Devil’s Guests. Matt’s invited a number of horror authors to each create a character and write a story getting them to a specific location where Matt will… I can’t say what Matt will be doing to them, but given that he’s the author of books including Sick B*stards and Rotting Dead F*cks, you know it’s not going to be pleasant! More news as I get it.

Following the devastating outbreak of an alien virus, Eddie and his young grandson struggle to survive within the wasteland of Great Britain. They live day-to-day, scavenging among the ruins, trying to avoid the deadly infected that now roam the land. But Eddie has other demons to conquer: a longstanding drink problem that needs to be kept in check if he wants to keep both himself and his young charge alive.

When a stranger enters their lives, seeking help, Eddie is forced to make a choice that could alter their lives forever.

Today I want to recommend THE LAST PLAGUE to you – the debut novel from Rich Hawkins. I’ve known Rich for a number of years now, and it’s been great to see him fulfil his writing ambitions. When we first met, I signed a book for him in Lowestoft (I think). This year, he signed a book for me!

THE LAST PLAGUE (available now from Crowded Quarantine) is a nasty, blood-soaked door-stop of a book which features more grotesques and mutilations than I ever thought possible to fit into five hundred pages. It’s relentlessly bleak and vicious, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. Here’s the synopsis. Click the link below for a few thoughts from Rich.

A pestilence has fallen across the land. Run and hide. Seek shelter. Do not panic. The infected WILL find you.

When Great Britain is hit by a devastating epidemic, four old friends must cross a chaotic, war-torn England to reach their families. But between them and home, the country is teeming with those afflicted by the virus – cannibalistic, mutated monsters whose only desires are to infect and feed.

A belated thank you to everyone involved in putting together the magnificent SCARdiff festival in Cardiff a couple of weeks back. It was an excellent event – very well attended and supported. This was a horror expo created by fans of the genre for fans of the genre, and as such it was a huge success. Congratulations to Wayne and the team. I got to hang out with some great folks, and I’ve posted a few photographs below (one stolen from Rich Hawkins, the other from Zoe Millard – hope you don’t mind, Zoe and Rich!). You’ll also find a clip from S4C (in Welsh) about the Expo which, even though you probably won’t understand it, will give you a better indication of how great a day it was than I could if I wrote for another couple of pages…

This coming weekend sees the second AUTUMN: HORROR IN THE EAST convention in Lowestoft. It’s a FREE event, so if you’re in the area please come down and say hello. This year sees a rare showing of the BBC’s notorious GHOSTWATCH with special guests in attendance. Can’t wait. All the details you need are here.